A NEW campaign has been launched to bring a Spitfire to Birmingham – where almost 12,000 of the iconic fighters rolled off the production line.

History buff Doug Pullen came up with the idea after a hoard of preserved planes were found in Burma, where they had been sent to help the fight against Japan in the Second World War.

Now 20 Spitfires are to return to the UK after Prime Minister David Cameron intervened to strike a deal.

And Mr Pullen said one should go on display in Birmingham, close to the Castle Bromwich plant were so many were constructed.

He said: “It is fitting that we should have a Spitfire delivered to commemorate the sacrifices and hard graft that local people gave to protect our borders during the war,” he said.

“Having one returned to its birthplace will give us all a tremendous sense of pride and provide an iconic monument in the area.”

Mr Pullen’s online petition, due to go live within days, reads: “We call upon the UK Government to recognise the hundreds of ordinary citizens from Birmingham who made a distinct and lasting impact upon the protection of UK borders by manufacturing the Supermarine Spitfire at Castle Bromwich.

“We believe a fitting tribute to their sacrifice would be the delivery of a Spitfire to the city.”

The petition called for a Spitfire to be sited within the Tyburn council ward, close to the aircraft factory, which is now run by Jaguar, and Castle Bromwich Aerodrome, which is now the Castle Vale housing estate.

The idea has won the backing of Royal British Legion officials.

Pype Hayes and Birches Green branch chairman Gerry Brien said: “It’s a wonderful idea. Many of us would like to see a Spitfire in the area and we look forward to moving this campaign forward.”

The aircraft were found buried more than 40ft below ground in Burma following a 15-year labour of love by Lincolnshire farmer David Cundall, who spent more than £130,000 on the project.

The Spitfires were shipped to Burma during the war and transported by rail to a British RAF base. But they were never used and were buried in transport crates in July 1945 on the orders of Lord Louis Mountbatten amid fears of a Japanese occupation.